Resource Recycling - Aprilhttp://resource-recycling.com/taxonomy/term/26/0
enReuse advocate calls Agbogbloshie 'a hoax'http://resource-recycling.com/node/5910
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<h2>Reuse advocate calls Agbogbloshie &#39;a hoax&#39;</h2>
<p><i>By Jared Paben, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>&quot;This is the place where thousands of tons of the world&#39;s electronics go to die,&quot; The Atlantic in December wrote about Agbogbloshie, a district in the middle of Accra, Ghana. One U.S. e-scrap expert, however, says he saw no evidence of that during a recent trip to the West African country.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;It&#39;s basically a hoax,&quot; said Robin Ingenthron, founder of the Middlebury, Vermont-based World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association (WR3A), which advocates for the fair international trade of used electronics. Ingenthron also runs Middlebury e-scrap processing business Good Point Recycling.</p>
<p class="indent">In an interview, Ingenthron, who visited Ghana March 28 to April 19, offered a contrasting picture of a site that&#39;s been <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/12/inside-a-massive-electronics-graveyard/383922/">widely described</a> by the mainstream media as a toxic dumping ground for the world&#39;s broken e-scrap. The designation has also spurred heated debate within the industry, propelling countless U.S. companies to market their services as an antidote to foreign dumping.</p>
<p class="indent">According to Ingenthron, during his trip to Ghana he saw no evidence of imported e-scrap traveling from the country&#39;s port at Tema to Agbogbloshie. He estimated he spent a total of 16 hours at Agbogbloshie and another six hours interviewing people who work there.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;We saw no evidence of direct import,&quot; he said.</p>
<p class="indent">Ingenthron said the site mostly contained automobile scrap, in addition to appliances and some locally generated e-scrap, which was delivered on hand carts from the surrounding neighborhoods. Only 20 to 50 used electronic pieces come to the site each day, Ingenthron wrote in a <a href="http://www.free-press-release.com/news-investigators-call-agbogbloshie-e-waste-tragedy-hoax-1429798740.html">press release</a> about his visit.</p>
<p class="indent">Ingenthron, whose WR3A is preparing a more complete report on the visit, did note &quot;the soil at Agbogbloshie is extremely contaminated.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;We do not condone the conditions at Agbogbloshie. We only note that ending imports will do nothing to address the problem,&quot; Ingenthron stated.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5910#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:55:59 +0000bobby5910 at http://resource-recycling.com<i>E-Scrap 2015</i>: The Academy is in sessionhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5909
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<h2><i>E-Scrap 2015</i>: The Academy is in session</h2>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>The upcoming E-Scrap Conference will again feature the E-Scrap Academy, a lineup of expert speakers who will help industry professionals of all experience levels get fully up to speed on the practical processing matters that affect business bottom lines right now.</p>
<p><span style="text-indent: 30px;">This year, the E-Scrap Academy will be offered as its own track throughout the conference, giving attendees a chance to take in sessions on the topics most prevalent to their own operations and abilities. Need guidance finding the right industry partners, ushering in certification, designing facility layout or negotiating deals? All that and more will be covered by industry leaders who have been profiting in e-scrap for years.</span></p>
<p><b style="text-indent: 30px;">E-Scrap 2015 is taking place Sept. 1-3, 2015 (that&#39;s the week before Labor Day) at Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida</b><span style="text-indent: 30px;">. Check in at e-scrapconference.com for all the latest information on exhibiting, sponsoring and attending.</span></p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5909#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:54:46 +0000bobby5909 at http://resource-recycling.comIs the UN underestimating US e-scrap activity?http://resource-recycling.com/node/5908
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<h2>Is the UN underestimating US e-scrap activity?</h2>
<p><i>By Bobby Elliott, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>A United Nations-backed study on global e-scrap generation and recovery suggests the U.S. recycling rate for end-of-life electronics and appliances sits at about 15 percent. An analysis of the method used to arrive at that figure, however, raises questions about its accuracy.</p>
<p class="indent">Billed as &quot;the first comprehensive assessment&quot; of e-scrap volumes throughout the world, the United Nations University-authored <a href="http://i.unu.edu/media/ias.unu.edu-en/news/7916/Global-E-waste-Monitor-2014-small.pdf">Global E-Waste Monitor 2014</a> estimates 7.8 million tons of end-of-life electronics and appliances entered the U.S. waste stream in 2014. Of that total, the study states, 1.1 million tons were recovered, resulting in a recovery rate just under 15 percent.</p>
<p class="indent">Media coverage in the study&#39;s wake has painted the U.S and China as the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/19/us-environment-waste-idUSKBN0NA00V20150419">top &quot;dumping&quot; countries in the world</a>. In announcing the release of the study, the United Nations University (UNU) <a href="http://unu.edu/news/news/ewaste-2014-unu-report.html?utm_source=home&amp;utm_medium=top&amp;utm_term=news&amp;utm_content=global-ewaste-monitor&amp;utm_campaign=unu-ias">largely echoed</a> that reading of the data, noting &quot;just two countries &ndash; the U.S. and China &ndash; discarded nearly one-third of the world&#39;s e-waste in 2014.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">A closer look at the data reveals while electronics and appliances were included in the study&#39;s estimate of U.S. generation of discarded material, only electronics were counted toward the recovery total. In other words, the study used one material classification for the numerator in determining the U.S. recovery rate and a starkly different one for the denominator.</p>
<p class="indent">The result is a recovery rate that may significantly understate the country&#39;s e-scrap activity.</p>
<p class="indent">To calculate overall generation, UNU&#39;s team of researchers came up with an estimate for the U.S. through an amalgam of historic electronic and appliance sales data as well as lifespan projections by device. That method spawned the 7.8 million tons figure, which includes both end-of-life electronics and appliances in the U.S.</p>
<p class="indent">However, when it comes to recovery, the study&#39;s authors turned to the U.S. EPA&#39;s <a href="http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/2012_msw_fs.pdf">2012 MSW report</a>, the most recent set of figures available for nationwide recycling efforts. The EPA data on electronics recovery does not include appliances in its total.</p>
<p class="indent">According to EPA data, an additional 2.8 million tons of appliances were recovered in 2012. Had that total been included in UNU estimates for recovery, the U.S. rate would have been 49 percent.</p>
<p class="indent">The 2012 EPA report, meanwhile, indicates the stand-alone electronics recycling rate in 2012 was 29.2 percent.</p>
<p class="indent">Analysis of the UNU methodology also uncovers another questionable move on the statistical front, one that may be a simple math mistake. In noting the recovery figure determined by EPA, the UNU report states 1 million metric tons (which converts to approximately 1.1 million short tons) of electronics were recovered for recycling in the U.S. However, the EPA MSW report states states that number was 1 million short tons, which would equate to 0.9 million metric tons.</p>
<p class="indent">Study author Kees Balde told E-Scrap News via email that in translating EPA data on electronics recycling, &quot;maybe something went wrong in the conversion / small calculation error.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">On the numerator-denominator discrepancy, study co-author Feng Wang explained to E-Scrap News that researchers held out on including appliance recovery totals because appliances are not handled by official take-back programs in the U.S. The study strictly defines recovery as material &quot;formally treated by national take-back systems&quot; and therefore also does not include electronics recovered outside of state programs.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;We did not include the collection figures of appliances because we checked the guidelines of the U.S. EPA and found out that it was calculated based on the steel content of the appliances, not based on actual collection figures from various schemes in all the U.S. states,&quot; Feng explained. &quot;On the other hand, the guidelines say the collection/recycling figure for select consumer electronics are from the state-level collection data.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">Feng added, &quot;We are aiming to improve the quality of the figures in the coming editions [of the study].&quot;</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5908#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:53:47 +0000bobby5908 at http://resource-recycling.comCanadian OEM, retailer reps push for revamped performance metricshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5907
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<h2>Canadian OEM, retailer reps push for revamped performance metrics</h2>
<p><i>By Bobby Elliott, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>Leaders behind Ontario&#39;s electronics stewardship program say performance goals should be based on more than just weight.</p>
<p class="indent">A <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/5888">report last week</a> showed the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) group fell short of 2014 collection targets. However, Melanie Wilde, OES&#39; executive director, told E-Scrap News the manufacturer and retailer-funded effort is still making notable progress.</p>
<p class="indent">According to Wilde, awareness of the Ontario program among residents reached an all-time high of 68 percent in 2014. What&#39;s more, 96.5 percent of Ontarians live within six miles of an OES collection depot. The province has a population of 13.6 million people.</p>
<p class="indent">In light of those numbers, Wilde said manufacturers and retailers support &quot;a more diverse suite of performance measures beyond weight collected that include factors such as awareness and accessibility.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">Since its inception five years ago, OES has recycled more than 361,000 tons of electronics, with the average resident recycling turning in more than 10 pounds worth of e-scrap per year, according to the group.</p>
<p class="indent">For comparison&#39;s sake, the U.S. state with the highest reported per capita recycling rate is Vermont&#39;s, which in 2013 garnered almost eight pounds per resident. On average, state programs collect between three and six pounds of material per resident every year.</p>
<p class="indent">Jay Illingworth, who heads Canada&#39;s national stewardship efforts under the Electronic Products Recycling Association, said Ontario&#39;s program is facing a challenge other provincial and state program leaders likely know well.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;Lightweighting is an issue that affects all of us in this industry,&quot; Illingworth noted. &quot;In just five years, we&#39;ve seen a dramatic shift in a number of products. CRTs are still coming into our programs, but we&#39;re also seeing flat screens, MP3 players and the new, lightweight electronics that are made of aluminum and plastic parts primarily. That&#39;s where we think performance based on weight really doesn&#39;t tell the whole picture.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">Wilde added that when OES&#39; annual collection goals were set in 2009 there was no way to fully anticipate the changing, lighterweight stream of 2014.</p>
<p class="indent">In Ontario, OES has asked provincial regulators to lower the 2015 collection target to more fairly reflect the current e-scrap stream. Wilde noted non-weight based targets could be &quot;worth considering,&quot; but expressed support &quot;for at least reviewing them on an annual basis.&quot;</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5907#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:52:32 +0000bobby5907 at http://resource-recycling.comRight-to-repair issues continue to affect e-scrap industryhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5906
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<h2>Right-to-repair issues continue to affect e-scrap industry</h2>
<p><i>By Dylan de Thomas, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>Don&rsquo;t think intellectual property laws apply to the scrap electronics recycling and refurbishment industry? Advocates fighting for &quot;the right to repair&quot; have news for you.</p>
<p class="indent">Speaking at last week&rsquo;s ISRI convention in Vancouver, Corynne McSherry, legal director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), laid out the issues facing those companies that wish to repair and refurbish the smartphones and tablets that are increasingly making up the material stream for the e-scrap industry.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;Software is now everywhere, in goods as varied as books, cars, phones and refrigerators,&quot; McSherry said, noting that copyright restrictions are expanding alongside the so-called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_Things">Internet of Things</a>.</p>
<p class="indent">Electronics scrap processors have already been hampered by a copyright law that was intended to stem online piracy of music and movies but has been used instead to disallow the &ldquo;unlocking&rdquo; of mobile devices. That&#39;s had a negative effect on a key value activity for the e-scrap industry &mdash; refurbishing and resell mobile phones and tablets.</p>
<p class="indent">At issue is section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a 1998 law that was intended to fight piracy but has instead been used by companies as varied as Apple, John Deere and General Motors to use copyright infringement claims to stop independent businesses from repairing products. E-scrap companies, for instance, have been hampered in efforts to &ldquo;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_jailbreaking">jailbreak</a>&rdquo; iPads, while <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/04/dmca-ownership-john-deere/">farmers wanting to fix their tractors</a> and mechanics aiming to repair cars have run into similar roadblocks.</p>
<p class="indent"><a href="http://www.resource-recycling.com/images/Wiens0914rr.pdf">Congress intervened last year</a> and made legal the practice of unlocking mobile devices in the U.S., but the fix is temporary. Because of the law&#39;s language, exemptions to the DMCA must be filed and approved by the Librarian of Congress every three years. That&#39;s an &ldquo;extremely burdensome process,&rdquo; said McSherry.</p>
<p class="indent">The exemption filing is currently being undertaken by a coalition of groups including ISRI and the Juelsgaard Intellectual Property &amp; Innovation Clinic at Stanford Law School.</p>
<p class="indent">At the ISRI conference, these issues were also addressed by Kyle Wiens, a reuse advocate and founder of the electronics repair resource iFixit. Wiens noted laws <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/5870">protecting right to repair have been introduced</a> in New York and Minnesota. &ldquo;Recyclers need fair-market access,&rdquo; Wiens said. He laid out the importance of access to repair manuals, which allow recycling and refurb companies to safely dismantle or repair consumer electronics of all kinds.</p>
<p class="indent">Both Wiens and McSherry were optimistic about the New York and Minnesota bills. They were also enthusiastic about a recently introduced national bill, the &ldquo;<a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/04/legislation/barriers-to-innovation-act-would-renew-dmca-exemptions-automatically/">Breaking Down Barriers to Innovation Act</a>,&rdquo; which would make the section 1201 exemptions permanent.</p>
<p class="indent">It remains to be seen whether the bills or requested exemptions will succeed leading to what Wiens calls &ldquo;the single biggest revenue-generating opportunity that&rsquo;s come along for the recycling industry in a long time.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="indent">McSherry hopes right-to-repair legislation will get her group will pull her group out of the e-scrap space. &quot;The win is when &hellip; you don&#39;t have to hear from a copyright lawyer to do your job,&quot; she said.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5906#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:51:41 +0000bobby5906 at http://resource-recycling.comCertification scorecardhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5905
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<h2>Certification scorecard</h2>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>With the roster of companies attaining third-party certifications or audits continuing to grow, <i>E-Scrap News</i> has compiled a roundup of the firms announcing certification this past week.</p>
<p><b>AccuShred LLC</b> of Toledo, Ohio; <b>Automated Shredding</b> of Fort Mill, S.C.; <b>Business Data Record Services, Inc.</b> of New Brighton, Minn.; <b>Infoshred, Inc.</b> of Bedford Heights., Ohio; <b>iSecure Inc.</b> of Grants Pass, Ore.; <b>Maverick Shredding</b> of Weslaco, Texas; <b>Proshred</b> of Houston of Stafford, Texas; and <b>Secure Shredding, Inc.</b> of Ft. Myers, Fla. have either achieved or renewed their NAID Certifications for Physical Destruction of Hard Drives.</p>
<p><i>E-Scrap News</i> has added <b>OHSAS 18001</b> and <b>NAID AAA</b> into its certification directory, as well as moved the directory online. If your firm recently completed these certifications, a <b>CHWMEG</b> audit or an <b>ISO 9001, ISO 14001, R2, RIOS</b> or <b>e-Stewards certification</b>, e-mail <a href="mailto:dleif@resource-recycling.com">dleif@resource-recycling.com</a> to be included in this section and in <i>E-Scrap News</i>&#39; directory. The full directory is available <a href="http://www.resource-recycling.com/images/certification/Certified_Processors.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5905#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:50:49 +0000bobby5905 at http://resource-recycling.comNewsBitshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5904
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<h2>NewsBits</h2>
<p><i>April 30, 2015</i></p>
<p>The Obama administration&#39;s <b>decision to remove EPEAT certification from an executive order on federal purchasing won&#39;t spell doom for the standard</b>, the head of the Green Electronics Council <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/23/obama-epeat-epa-technology-green-electronics-council">told The Guardian</a>. Robert Frisbee, CEO of the Green Electronics Council, which administers the standard, said he&#39;s confident federal agencies will continue to purchase electronics that meet the standard.</p>
<p>A take-back event in West Hartford, Conn. drew a <b>slew of folks dropping off TVs, laptops, monitors and other electronics</b>. E-scrap was <a href="http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/High-Turnout-for-Comcast-Cares-Day-Electronics-Recycling-Drive-301323381.html">collected</a> by Green Monster e-Cycling, and the event was hosted by NBC Connecticut.</p>
<p><b>Sims Recycling Solutions will expand an ITAD facility in Singapore</b> to meet high demand, the company <a href="http://www.simsrecycling.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Singapore-IT-Asset-Disposition-Services">announced</a>. The global IT asset disposal provider has outgrown its original space, first occupied in February 2008. Another ITAD provider, Arrow Electronics, recently announced the opening of its first facility in Singapore.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5904#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 30 Apr 2015 16:48:46 +0000bobby5904 at http://resource-recycling.comEurope to limit plastic bag usagehttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5903
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Europe to limit plastic bag usage<br />
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<i>By Editorial Staff, Plastics Recycling Update</i>
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<i>April 29, 2015</i>
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<p>
The EU's European Parliament has introduced a widespread directive requiring member countries to find ways to cut down on plastic bag usage.
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According to an <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150424IPR45708/html/MEPs-clamp-down-on-wasteful-use-of-plastic-carrier-bags">agreemen</a>t reached by the European Parliament (EP) on April 28, member countries can either limit each citizen to 90 plastic bags per year by 2019, and 40 by 2025, or start charging for them by 2018.
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"We're talking about an immense environmental problem. Billions of plastic bags end up directly in nature as untreated waste. It damages nature, harms fish, birds, and we have to get to grips with this," Margrete Auken from Denmark stated in the announcement. Auken has been a noted supporter of limits on plastic bag usage in the EU.
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A video produced by EP states approximately 100 billion plastic bags are used throughout Europe each year with per capita usage at 198. According to the EP, approximately 8 percent of those bags "end up in lakes and rivers or in the countryside and on roads." The EP also suggests 94 percent of birds native to the North Sea "have plastic in their stomachs."
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<p class="indent">
In addition, the agreement calls on members "to assess the impact on the environment of oxo-degradable plastic materials … and propose suitable measures." The oxo-degradable issue has been particularly controversial in Europe, where groups and politicians have <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/4369">questioned</a> claims of degradability.
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Members have until 2017 to propose standardized "labeling and marking measures" on bags marketed as compostable or degradable.
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5903#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 29 Apr 2015 17:35:17 +0000danl5903 at http://resource-recycling.comPlastics Recycling 2016: Start planning nowhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5902
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<h2>
<i>Plastics Recycling 2016</i>: Start planning now<br />
</h2>
<p>
<i>By Editorial Staff, Plastics Recycling Update</i>
</p>
<p>
<i>April 29, 2015</i>
</p>
<p>
The plastics recycling industry's most pivotal gathering is headed to New Orleans next February. Register now to make sure your business gets a big boost in the Big Easy.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The February 2016 gathering of top plastics recycling executives will be the 11th iteration of the conference. Plastics Recycling 2015 welcomed more than 1500 attendees from 32 countries, and a packed exhibit hall featured nearly 200 leading companies. Expect even more education, networking and inspiration in New Orleans.
</p>
<p class="indent">
<b>Plastics Recycling 2016 is taking place Feb. 1-3 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana</b>. Head to <a href="http://www.plasticsrecycling.com/">plasticsrecycling.com</a> for all the information on attending, exhibiting and sponsoring.
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5902#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 29 Apr 2015 17:34:20 +0000danl5902 at http://resource-recycling.comMaine bill would remove deposits on large bottleshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5901
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<h2>
Maine bill would remove deposits on large bottles<br />
</h2>
<p>
<i>By Jared Paben, Plastics Recycling Update</i>
</p>
<p>
<i>April 29, 2015</i>
</p>
<p>
Under a bill in the Maine Legislature, large drink containers would be removed from the deposit program and a statewide recycling fund would be created.
</p>
<p class="indent">
<a href="http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?paper=SP0432&amp;PID=undefined&amp;snum=127&amp;sec3#">Legislature Document 1204</a> would eliminate deposits on beverage containers 32 ounces and larger, the vast majority of which are plastic, starting Dec. 1, 2016. Maine consumers currently pay a 15-cent deposit for wine and liquor containers and a 5-cent deposit for all others.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The bill would also create a Maine Recycling Fund, which could distribute grants and low-interest loans to local governments, haulers and MRF operators with the goal of increasing recycling. Money for the fund would come from a proposed half-cent fee manufacturers and distributors would pay for each large container they distribute.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The state would collect those fees for six years – from December 2016 through December 2022 – and that policy would generate an estimated $300,000-$400,000 per year for the recycling fund.
</p>
<p class="indent">
Under the bill, the state Department of Environmental Protection would disperse a majority of the funds to projects focused on diverting organic materials from the waste stream. It would create a Recycling Public Advisory Council to guide program creation, recommend funding awards and conduct outreach.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The editorial boards for two Maine newspapers had opposing reactions to the prospect of pulling large containers out of the 37-year-old deposit program. The <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2015/04/19/our-view-recyling-finance-idea-%E2%80%A8no-threat-to-bottle-bill/">Portland Press Herald said</a> it's worth removing larger items from the deposit system if doing so can lift the state's recycling as a whole. The <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/20/opinion/editorials/maine-needs-recycling-boost-but-not-at-bottle-bills-expense/">Bangor Daily News</a>, on the other hand, noted lawmakers should look first for other recycling infrastructure funding sources, such as the revenues from unclaimed deposits.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The Environment and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the bill on April 23. Amid the <a href="http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?paper=SP0432&amp;PID=undefined&amp;snum=127&amp;sec3#">testimony</a>, Rick Moore, executive director of the National Association for PET Container Resources, wrote that because the vast majority of containers 32 ounces and larger are made of PET, the bill would reduce the amount and quality of PET in the recycling stream.
</p>
<p class="indent">
"Weakening the Maine Beverage Container Deposit Law would be a devastating blow to the PET recycling industry, and to the PET container industry as a whole," he wrote.
</p>
<p class="indent">
David Dumont, president of the Maine Beverage Association, testified that large containers are mostly made of PET and HDPE, which are easily recycled in municipal systems. He added they are almost always consumed in the home, so they don't contribute to roadside litter.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The bill was presented by Republican Sen. Andre Cushing III and was co-sponsored by five Democrats and four Republicans.<br />
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5901#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 29 Apr 2015 17:33:26 +0000danl5901 at http://resource-recycling.comCan circular economy initiative boost plastics recovery?http://resource-recycling.com/node/5900
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<h2>Can circular economy initiative boost plastics recovery?</h2>
<p><i>By Editorial Staff, Plastics Recycling Update</i></p>
<p><i>April 29, 2015</i></p>
<p>A group in Europe has emerged to make the case for a circular economy. If successful, the effort could pay dividends for the plastics recycling industry abroad.</p>
<p class="indent"><a href="http://reloopplatform.eu/the-official-launch-of-reloop/">Launched</a> March 25 at the European ReUse Conference, the Reloop Platform will be led by Clarissa Morawski and consists of &quot;industry, government, and non-governmental organizations.&quot; According to the Reloop website, the group will attempt to &quot;make the Circular Economy relevant, to bring it to economic and political agendas and obtain the political will which is lacking in the road map towards a decarbonized, de-energized and dematerialized Europe.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">The <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/index_en.htm">circular economy idea</a> in the European Union has emerged as a formal government-backed strategy to reduce waste, create jobs and spark innovation.</p>
<p class="indent">Last year the European Commission recanted on a proposed circular economy package that would have required member countries to recycle 60 percent of plastic packaging. A &quot;more ambitious&quot; package, however, will be assembled by the end of 2015, Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker has <a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-2703_en.htm">said</a>, and Reloop is expected to provide input on how best to develop that plan.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;The implication of higher targets and a new, more refined and accurate methodology for reporting will undoubtedly lead to ramped-up efforts to significantly increase the collection of quality plastics from the 2012 plastic recovery rate of 26 percent,&quot; Morawski told Plastics Recycling Update.</p>
<p class="indent">An additional 13 billion pounds of recycled resin could be reclaimed every year as a result of the new package, Morawski estimated. She added that if a package is announced, the onus will be on member states to show the &quot;political will to regulate systems&quot; to support recovery of plastics.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5900#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 29 Apr 2015 17:32:11 +0000danl5900 at http://resource-recycling.comPetroChem Wire: Recycled GPPS flake prices fallhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5899
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<h2><i>PetroChem Wire</i>: Recycled GPPS flake prices fall</h2>
<p><i>April 29, 2015</i></p>
<p>Prices for recycled general-purpose polystyrene flake east of the Rockies slipped 2 cents per pound in late April, reflecting good supply and lower bids from buyers.</p>
<p class="indent">Mixed colors material sold at 33 and 35 cents per pound delivered Midwest, while white GPPS moved at 36 cents per pound delivered Midwest.</p>
<p class="indent">Scrap polystyrene prices are also lower in late April. Clean HIPS white and mixed colors scrap is down 2 cents per pound, according to those in the market. Prime polystyrene prices are on the rise, though, and recycled PS prices are expected by many to follow. Prime HIPS increased a penny in the week ended April 23, with that market at 92 cents per pound.</p>
<p class="indent">For a free trial to the <i>Repro/Regrind Resin Report</i> or to see sample issues of all <i>PCW</i> reports visit the <i>PetroChem Wire</i> website at <a href="http://www.petrochemwire.com" target="_blank">www.petrochemwire.com</a>. You can also contact Cindy Bryan at <a href="mailto:cindy@petrochemwire.com">cindy@petrochemwire.com</a> or (713) 385-1407.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5899#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 29 Apr 2015 17:29:28 +0000danl5899 at http://resource-recycling.comNewsBits from Plastics Recycling Updatehttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5898
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<h2>NewsBits</h2>
<p><i>April 29, 2015</i></p>
<p>A working group <a href="http://pac.ca/assets/pn-pfw-april-progress-report.pdf">studying</a> labeling on PET containers will <b>continue to share information and promote the use of recycling-friendly labels and adhesives in 2015</b>, according to PAC Next. The organization&#39;s Full-Wrap Label and PET Thermoform Labels &amp; Adhesives Working Group is made up of various packaging industry professionals.</p>
<p><b>Hundreds of recycling bins will be placed around Winnipeg to collect plastic bags for reuse</b> at a food pantry. Under a new <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/it-s-in-the-bag-winnipeg-recycling-program-provides-food-helps-environment-1.3045792">partnership</a> between WInnipeg Harvest and Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba, used bags will be used to create food kits for low-income people. The organization uses more than a million bags a year to pack food kits.</p>
<p>About <b>200,000 plastic bottles were dumped in a central fountain</b> at the University of Central Florida, an organized <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/jon-busdeker/os-plastic-bottles-ucf-pond-post.html">display</a> intended to make a statement about plastic waste. The project was a collaboration between student government and a campus sustainability awareness group.</p>
<p>The <b>world needs to understand how damaging microplastics are to the marine environment</b> and <a href="http://www.gesamp.org/data/gesamp/files/media/Publications/WG_40_Brochure_Microplastic_in_the_ocean/gallery_2191/object_2404_large.pdf">take steps</a> to keep them out of the oceans, according to a United Nations advisory body. The research was funded in part by the American Chemistry Council and Plastics Europe.</p>
<p>Hong Kong-based <b>Watsons Water will use the first 100 percent recycled PET water bottle in Asia</b>, according to the nonprofit organization Ocean Recovery Alliance. The founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ocean-recovery-alliance-facilitates-hong-kongs-first-revolutionary-go-green-bottle-300071886.html">introduced</a> the bottled water company to the idea of switching to 100 percent recycled PET bottles.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5898#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 29 Apr 2015 17:27:41 +0000danl5898 at http://resource-recycling.comAppeal filed by Indy mixed-waste MRF opponentshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5897
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<h2>Appeal filed by Indy mixed-waste MRF opponents</h2>
<p><i>By Bobby Elliott, Resource Recycling</i></p>
<p><i>April 28, 2015</i></p>
<p>A lawsuit testing the legality of Indianapolis&#39; plans to give a waste-to-energy company the long-term reins of the City&#39;s waste management duties might be getting a second chance.</p>
<p class="indent">Plaintiffs in the case against the City have appealed a ruling <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/5854">earlier this month</a> that found Indianapolis was within its legal right to extend its current contract with Covanta Energy for another 14 years. &nbsp;Covanta plans to build a $45 million mixed-waste processing facility to pluck recyclables from commingled trash, recycling and organics while continuing to operate its waste-to-energy plant next door.</p>
<p class="indent">The approach, which the company has characterized as &quot;a first-of-its-kind, next-generation system for sustainably managing waste,&quot; is a controversial one. &nbsp;Industry members, including plaintiffs Graphic Packaging and Rock-Tenn, have warned it&#39;s a tactic with a long history of low recovery rates and the City would be better off with a traditional curbside recycling program.</p>
<p class="indent">Graphic Packaging and Rock-Tenn are joined by an Indianapolis resident, Cathy Weinmann, in the current case against the City. &nbsp;The notice of appeal, <a href="http://www.resource-recycling.com/images/e-newsletterimages/Indianapolisappeal.pdf">a copy</a> of which was obtained by Resource Recycling, was filed April 21.</p>
<p class="indent">The notice offers no clarification on which specific segments of the ruling are being appealed.</p>
<p class="indent">Meanwhile, Covanta recently <a href="www.covanta.com/en/news/press-releases/2015/Apr-20.aspx">announced plans</a> to go ahead with the hiring of more than 60 employees of the new facility. &nbsp;The company expects to break ground on the site in 2015 and bring it on-line by the end of 2016, the release states.</p>
<p class="indent">In a statement, the City of Indianapolis referred to the previous ruling in the case as evidence of the legality of its deal with Covanta.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;The Court&rsquo;s recent decision affirmed the City&rsquo;s legal position and paves the way for our current energy from waste provider, Covanta, to provide recycling for 100 percent of single family residences in Indianapolis, with no government mandate and no tax or fee increase,&quot; said Melody Park, director of Indianapolis&rsquo;s Office of Sustainability.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5897#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:34:41 +0000dylan5897 at http://resource-recycling.com<i>Resource Recycling Conference 2015</i>: Grasping the global industryhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5896
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<h2>
<i>Resource Recycling Conference 2015</i>: Grasping the global industry<br />
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<i>April 28, 2015</i>
</p>
<p>
The upcoming Resource Recycling Conference will start with a fascinating look at how the interconnected pieces of materials recovery come together in a keynote address from Adam Minter, award-winning Bloomberg journalist and author of the 2013 book "Junkyard Planet."
</p>
<p>
Minter comes from a family of Midwest scrap yard owners and now lives in Southeast Asia, where he covers the evolving waste management sphere there and elsewhere across the world. His understanding of the specific conditions surrounding recycling in the U.S. as well as in the multitude of markets where materials end up put him in a unique position to offer a truly objective and holistic view of the industry. His talk will enlighten all recycling pros on current global realities and how specific impacts are felt all the way back to curbside.
</p>
<p>
<b>Resource Recycling Conference 2015 is scheduled for Sept. 28-30, 2015 at the Downtown Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana.</b><br />
Head to <a href="http://rrconference.com">rrconference.com</a> for more information on attending, sponsoring and exhibiting.
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5896#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:34:02 +0000dylan5896 at http://resource-recycling.comNYC eyes zero waste by 2030http://resource-recycling.com/node/5895
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<h2>NYC eyes zero waste by 2030</h2>
<p><i>By Bobby Elliott, Resource Recycling</i></p>
<p><i>April 28, 2015</i></p>
<p>New York City has unveiled a multi-pronged plan to divert all its waste from landfills and incineration by 2030.</p>
<p class="indent">The plan, included in Mayor Bill de Blasio&#39;s <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/onenyc/downloads/pdf/publications/OneNYC.pdf">OneNYC report</a>, calls on the the nation&#39;s largest city to expand its current organics collection program and provide single-stream recycling collection service to all residents by 2020. &nbsp;It also proposes a pay-as-you-throw program, or, as the City calls it, a &quot;save-as-you-throw program.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;In New York City, implementing a Save-As-You-Throw program that would reward those who waste less and recycle more could reduce waste generation by as much as 30 percent,&quot; the report states. &nbsp;&quot;The program would represent the largest potential contribution toward our Zero Waste goals.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">Becoming a &quot;zero waste&quot; city won&#39;t be easy, the report notes. &nbsp;New York&#39;s recycling rate in 2014 was 15.4 percent. &nbsp;</p>
<p class="indent">In its attempt to divert all material from landfill by 2030, New York City will pair its incentive-based recycling and trash collection model with a series of other changes.</p>
<p class="indent">A switch from the city&#39;s current dual-stream recycling collection to a single-stream method is in the works. &nbsp;Paper products, metal, glass and rigid plastics account for 32 percent of the city&#39;s waste stream, the report states.</p>
<p class="indent">By 2020, residents will be able to put all recyclables in one bin for processing. &nbsp;The City also says it will push for products made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled content to increase demand for recycled materials.</p>
<p class="indent">The City will also work to expand its current pilot organics collection program and capacity. &nbsp;According to the report, organics account for 31 percent of the waste stream and neither access nor capacity presently exists to process it all.</p>
<p class="indent">While the City will continue using compost facilities in upstate New York and Connecticut, as well its own operation in Staten Island, it will aim to &quot;develop additional capacity&quot; through new partnerships and the use of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to process food waste. &nbsp;All told, the City says those plants have the capacity to handle 8 percent of the municipality&#39;s food scraps through anaerobic digestion.</p>
<p class="indent">In addition to its <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/5579">recent ban</a> on expanded polystyrene products, the City says it supports additional bans and measures, including those targeting plastic bags, arguing the bags are &quot;a major component of street litter and can clog storm drains, jam the machinery at the City&#39;s recycling sorting facility and end up in New York Harbor.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">The New York zero waste effort follows initiatives in several other major U.S. cities. &nbsp;San Francisco has a <a href="http://www.sfenvironment.org/zero-waste">2020 goal</a> of achieving zero waste, and Chicago has a similar <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/progs/env/SustainableChicago2015.pdf">long-term goal</a>. &nbsp;The City of Los Angeles has a goal of <a href="http://san.lacity.org/ZeroWasteLA/index.html">reaching a 90 percent diversion rate</a> by 2025. &nbsp;Seattle is also <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/council/issues/zerowaste.htm">aiming</a> for a 70 percent recycling rate by that time.</p>
<p class="indent"><em>Note: The article has been clarified to state the report endorses additional &quot;bans and measures&quot; on a variety of products, including plastic bags. While an ordinance is currently being considered that would install a fee on plastic bags, the OneNYC report does not specifically cite support for the ordinance or a separate ban.&nbsp;</em></p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5895#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:33:05 +0000dylan5895 at http://resource-recycling.comSeattle delays composting fineshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5894
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<h2>
Seattle delays composting fines<br />
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<i>By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling</i>
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<i>April 28, 2015</i>
</p>
<p>
Seattle's law banning food scraps from the garbage has been so successful the city will delay issuing fines for violators, the city's mayor said.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The city's ban on disposal of food scraps, which went into effect January, is <a href="www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-puts-off-food-scrap-f">on track</a> to increase collection by 19,000 tons of material in 2015, city officials estimate. They hope to see the law yield an additional 38,000 tons of compostables in 2017, the third year of the program.
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The city was set to begin issuing fines for violators July 1, but will delay issuing them until at least 2016, Mayor Ed Murray said. That will provide more time to educate customers about the law's requirements.
</p>
<p class="indent">
Under the city law approved in September, single-family household residents would face $1 fines on their bills if their garbage contained 10 percent or more organics or recyclable materials. Multi-family and commercial properties violating the law would receive two warnings, followed by a $50 fine.
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In the meantime, Seattle Public Utilities, which administers the program, will conduct continued outreach to residents about the law's requirements. The city will mail materials to households, target outreach to ethnic communities and businesses, partner with community groups for outreach, place notices and flyers on garbage cans and conduct advertising, among other steps.
</p>
<p class="indent">
According to a <a href="www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=14994">city press release</a>, the City is likely to meet its 60 percent diversion goal this year. In 2013, it achieved a 56 percent diversion rate.
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5894#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:32:01 +0000dylan5894 at http://resource-recycling.comWide world of recycling http://resource-recycling.com/node/5893
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<h2>
Wide world of recycling<br />
</h2>
<p>
<i>By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling</i>
</p>
<p>
<i>April 28, 2015</i>
</p>
<p>
A town on the English Channel launches a recycling incentive program, an island in the middle of the channel starts a curbside recycling program and a group in France calls that country's recycling efforts "disastrous."
</p>
<p class="indent">
The <b>UK's Torbay Council has launched an incentive program</b> to get residents to recycle more. Through the "Torbay Green Points" program, the town on the English Riviera will <a href=“http://www.ciwm-journal.co.uk/archives/13158">provide</a> discounts, special offers and prizes to participating residents.
</p>
<p class="indent">
The <b>recycling rate in Guernsey has reached 49 percent</b> for the first time, after the <a href=“http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-guernsey-32467716">introduction</a> of curbside recycling in March 2014. Guernsey, part of the Channel Islands, is a possession of the British Crown (the island is not technically a part of the U.K. but is not a sovereign state either).
</p>
<p class="indent">
<b>France's recycling rate, at less than half the European Union average, is “disastrous,"</b> <a href="www.connexionfrance.com/recycling-rates-france-disastrous-study-ufc-que-choisir-16879-view-article.html">according</a> to a watchdog report. The nation currently has a 25 percent recycling rate, and it has a goal of hitting 50 percent by 2020.
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5893#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:31:04 +0000dylan5893 at http://resource-recycling.comNewsBitshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5892
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<h2>NewsBits</h2>
<p><i>By Editorial Staff, Resource Recycling</i></p>
<p><i>April 28, 2015</i></p>
<p><b>Contamination and high transportation costs for glass</b> are leading some recycling companies to recoup their costs by <b>charging cities</b> to accept the material, according to <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-costs-put-cracks-in-glass-recycling-programs-1429695003">a story in the Wall Street Journal</a>. &nbsp;Some cities, such as Harrisburg, Penn. and Charleston, W.V. have halted curbside glass collection altogether.</p>
<p>Buffalo, New York will use a grant to <b>launch a public outreach campaign aimed at persuading more residents to recycle</b>. &nbsp;Called &quot;34 and More,&quot; the campaign <a href="www.wgrz.com/story/news/2015/04/22/buffalo-recycle-campaign/26203459/">aims</a> to boost the recovery rate to above the national average of 34.5 percent.</p>
<p>Starting this fall, <b>students in Chicago public schools will create objects using recyclable materials</b> as part of a <a href="http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/chicago-public-schools-lakeshore-recycling-systems-launch-recycling-renegades-legacy-2012389.htm">campaign</a> geared toward recycling education. &nbsp;The campaign, called &quot;Recycling Renegades,&quot; is a result of a partnership between the school district and Lakeshore Recycling Systems.</p>
<p>The Canadian province of <b>Manitoba plans to contribute $275,000 to help an e-scrap firm delve into mattress recycling</b>. &nbsp;Mother Earth Recycling, a social enterprise, <a href="http://www.winnipegsun.com/2015/04/22/mattress-recycling-firm-given-275k">plans</a> to hire First Nations workers for recovery of wood, metals and foams from mattresses.</p>
<p>A product stewardship program for paint now boasts <b>more than 700 paint drop-off locations throughout California</b>. &nbsp;Nonprofit organization PaintCare also <a href="www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paintcare-ca-has-grown-to-more-than-700-paint-drop-off-sites-and-more-than-2-million-gallons-processed-300071487.html">runs</a> paint take-back programs in Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Vermont, with Maine, Colorado and Washington, D.C. coming soon.</p>
<p>The <b>Virginia Department of Corrections collected 1,100 tons of fiber, plastic and metals for recycling in 2014</b>. &nbsp;Among the top <a href="http://www.corrections.com/news/article/39549-virginia-department-of-corrections-celebrates-recycling-efforts-on-earth-day">participating</a> facilities was Central Virginia Unit No. 13, which recycled 20 tons last year, one-third more than it recycled two years prior.</p>
<p>One hauler in Middlebury, Vermont is <a href="http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/middleburys-latest-trash-haulers-are-equine/Content?oid=2557347">going back</a> to the past to find <b>a no-emissions, low-cost solution to curbside collections: a horse-drawn wagon</b>.</p>
<p><b>Covanta reported a first quarter loss of $37 million</b>, worse than analysts expectations. The Morristown, New Jersey-based company is <a href="finance.yahoo.com/news/covanta-reports-1q-loss-205658839.html">planning</a> to build a mixed-waste processing facility in Indianapolis, a plan that has drawn opposition. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The Carton Council of North America gave the Gulf Avenue Elementary School in Wilmington, California <b>top prize for recycling cartons</b> during the month-long K-12 Recycling Challenge for the Great American Cleanup. The school, which recycled 2.14 pounds per capita of cartons, received a $500 cash award. Two other schools received $300 and $200 prizes for coming in second and third.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5892#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:30:05 +0000dylan5892 at http://resource-recycling.comIndustry and supplier newshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5891
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<h2>Industry and supplier news</h2>
<p><i>April 28, 2015</i></p>
<p>Packaging company <b>MeadWestvaco (MWV)</b> has become the latest addition to the <b>Recycling Partnership</b>, an effort to bolster cart-based curbside recycling. MWV is based in Richmond, Virginia, where the Recycling Partnership is already working to boost the recycling rate. For more, click <a href="http://newsroom.mwv.com/blog/featured/recycling-partnership">here</a>.</p>
<p>International stewardship company <b>Reclay StewardEdge</b> has appointed Ken Friesen as president of the company. Friesen has decades of experience helping to establish and lead multi-stakeholder stewardship programs in Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. For more, click <a href="http://reclaystewardedge.com/">here</a>.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5891#commentsApril2015Resource RecyclingTue, 28 Apr 2015 15:29:24 +0000dylan5891 at http://resource-recycling.comArrow opens Singapore ITAD facilityhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5890
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<h2>Arrow opens Singapore ITAD facility</h2>
<p><i>By Editorial Staff, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 23, 2015</i></p>
<p>Arrow Electronics has announced the opening of its first IT asset disposition facility in Singapore.</p>
<p class="indent">In announcing the move, the publicly traded company said the Singapore outpost &quot;aligns with our commitment to pursuing emerging and high-growth markets.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;Our capabilities and reach are growing with the global demand for IT asset disposition and reverse logistics services, and we believe we have the most robust set of capabilities and the global reach to serve our customers wherever they need us,&quot; Mark Majeske, president of Arrow&#39;s global reverse logistics business, said in a statement.</p>
<p class="indent">A recent study on global e-scrap generation by the United Nations University noted Singapore as one of the largest per-inhabitant generators of e-scrap. According to the study, the average Singaporean generated more than 43 pounds of e-scrap in 2014.</p>
<p class="indent">According to Arrow, the Singapore site has been designed to be in compliance with &quot;local, national and international standards for data security and environmental regulations,&quot; including the R2 certification.</p>
<p class="indent">In February, Arrow announced the <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/5684">acquisition of RDC</a>, a subsidiary of Computacenter UK, for a reported $84 million. The company has made numerous acquisitions of e-scrap firms in recent years and operates nine ITAD locations in the U.S.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5890#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 23 Apr 2015 16:21:18 +0000bobby5890 at http://resource-recycling.com<i>E-Scrap 2015</i>: Booth space going fasthttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5889
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<h2><i>E-Scrap 2015</i>: Booth space going fast</h2>
<p><i>By Editorial Staff, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 23, 2015</i></p>
<p>Want to be sure your company gets top-level exposure at North America&#39;s premier electronics recycling conference? Register now to exhibit.</p>
<p class="indent">The trade show hall at the E-Scrap Conference has sold out in recent years, so smart industry insiders know not to wait to reserve their space. Exhibiting is a prime opportunity for brokers, processors, equipment makers, trade groups, logistics pros and other stakeholders to get their goods and ideas out in front of the e-scrap industry&#39;s movers and shakers.</p>
<p class="indent">Don&#39;t be left out of the action. Full exhibitor information is available <a href="http://www.resource-recycling.com/ESC2015/ESC2015_contract.pdf">here</a>.</p>
<p class="indent"><b>E-Scrap 2015 is taking place Sept. 1-3, 2015 (that&#39;s the week before Labor Day) at Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida</b>. Check in at e-scrapconference.com for all the latest information on exhibiting, sponsoring and attending.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5889#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 23 Apr 2015 16:20:34 +0000bobby5889 at http://resource-recycling.comOEMs fall short of Ontario e-scrap collection targetshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5888
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<h2>OEMs fall short of Ontario e-scrap collection targets</h2>
<p><i>By Jared Paben, E-Scrap News</i></p>
<p><i>April 23, 2015</i></p>
<p>Ontario&#39;s electronics stewardship organization fell 14 percent short of its e-scrap collection target for 2014, and it said smaller and lighter products were to blame.</p>
<p class="indent">Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), an industry-funded nonprofit organization, oversaw the collection of 78,284 tons of e-scrap last year, according to a <a href="http://www.resource-recycling.com/images/e-newsletterimages/2014_WDO_Appendices.pdf">report</a> filed with provincial regulators.</p>
<p class="indent">That was short of the original goal of 90,941 tons. Set in 2009, that target was based on dated information and assumption on technology in the future, according to OES.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;The dramatic change in weights, types of devices and change in composition just wasn&rsquo;t possible to predict back in 2009,&quot; the report states. &quot;For example, in the past 10 years the weight of televisions has declined by as much as 57 percent, and multi-function devices by as much as 40 percent. Lightweighting, miniaturization and consolidation of products are beginning to occur at a rapid pace.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">The 2014 collection was the largest per capita of any province in Canada, Waste Diversion Ontario spokeswoman Julie Kwiecinski said. Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO) regulates e-scrap collection and approves program plans submitted by the manufacturers&#39; group.</p>
<p class="indent">OES collected the equivalent of 11.5 pounds for each provincial resident in 2014. At more than 12.8 million people, the province is by far Canada&#39;s most populous.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;What&#39;s really important here is the accuracy of the collection target,&quot; Kwiecinski said. &quot;OES&#39;s collection target is based on five-year-old data when ... tablets didn&#39;t even exist.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">WDO has asked OES to present revised targets that address industry and recycling trends, including lightweighting and today&#39;s shorter product life cycles, according to Kwiecinski. Revised targets would give WDO a better understanding of OES&#39;s true performance, she noted.</p>
<p class="indent">OES said it calculated a revised target of 67,638 tons for 2014 to reflect new information on weights, product lifespan and volume, the report states.</p>
<p class="indent">WDO hasn&#39;t yet approved any revised targets, Kwiecinski noted. The 2015 target has yet to be set, she said, and if a new target isn&#39;t available, the 2014 one will be used.</p>
<p class="indent">OES also reported 96.5 percent of Ontario residents live within 6.2 miles of an OES e-scrap drop-off site or affiliated drop-off point. That&#39;s based on a study conducted by Environmental Design and Management, a firm it hired in November 2014. It also looked at drive time and determined 98.3 percent of the province&#39;s urban population is within a 15-minute drive of a drop-off location.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5888#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 23 Apr 2015 16:17:07 +0000bobby5888 at http://resource-recycling.comWide world of e-scraphttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5887
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<h2>Wide world of e-scrap</h2>
<p><i>April 23, 2015</i></p>
<p>The United Nations University says just about 16 percent of the world&#39;s e-scrap was recycled in 2014, while a new report sheds light on Australia&#39;s e-scrap recycling infrastructure.</p>
<p class="indent">A <a href="http://i.unu.edu/media/ias.unu.edu-en/news/7916/Global-E-waste-Monitor-2014-small.pdf">report</a> from the United Nations University suggests <b>46.1 million tons of e-scrap and appliances entered the global waste stream in 2014</b>. Of that total, just 7.2 million tons were collected through formal take-back channels, the report states. Stay tuned as E-Scrap News develops more coverage on the data, including figures for U.S. generation and recovery of end-of-life electronics.</p>
<p class="indent">The Canadian wing of <b>office supply chain Staples</b> has released its <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/staples-canada-releases-2014-sustainability-170000994.html">2014 Sustainability Report</a>, including data on in-store e-scrap collection. According to the report, Staples Canada collected about 8.7 million pounds of electronics, surpassing a goal of collecting 7.9 million pounds.</p>
<p class="indent">The U.K.&#39;s BBC <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32339196">recently published a report</a> looking at <b>startups and nonprofit groups in different pockets of the globe</b> that have taken unique approaches to recovering old electronics. One featured entity is BinBag, based in India: The company serves as an online portal connecting consumers with e-scrap in their homes and companies that want to process the material.</p>
<p class="indent">A group called Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform has <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/australias-ewaste-disposal-system-10-years-behind-rest-of-the-world-20150407-1m9kwj.html">issued a report</a> stating <b>Australia&#39;s e-scrap recycling network is severely lagging</b> the recycling efforts occurring in the U.S. and other countries across the world.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5887#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 23 Apr 2015 16:15:21 +0000bobby5887 at http://resource-recycling.comCertification scorecardhttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5886
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<h2>Certification scorecard</h2>
<p><i>April 23, 2015</i></p>
<p>With the roster of companies attaining third-party certifications or audits continuing to grow, <i>E-Scrap News</i> has compiled a roundup of the firms announcing certification this past week.</p>
<p><b>Affordable Shred</b> of Buffalo, Ill.; <b>Best Shredding (Div/Best Service Pros)</b> of Langley, B.C.; and <b>Shred Confidential Incorporated</b> of Anaheim, Calif. have either achieved or renewed their NAID Certifications for Physical Destruction of Hard Drives.</p>
<p>Also, <b>Dynamic Recycling TN LLC</b> of Nashville, Tenn.; <b>EPC&rsquo;s E-Scrap Processing Center</b> of Earth City, Mo.; <b>ER2-Electronic Responsible Recyclers</b> of Mesa, Ariz.; and <b>IT Renew</b> of Newark, Calif. have either achieved or renewed their NAID Certifications for Computer Hard Drive Sanitization and Physical Destruction of Hard Drives.</p>
<p><i>E-Scrap News</i> has added <b>OHSAS 18001</b> and <b>NAID AAA</b> into its certification directory, as well as moved the directory online. If your firm recently completed these certifications, a <b>CHWMEG</b> audit or an <b>ISO 9001, ISO 14001, R2, RIOS</b> or <b>e-Stewards certification</b>, e-mail <a href="mailto:dleif@resource-recycling.com">dleif@resource-recycling.com</a> to be included in this section and in <i>E-Scrap News</i>&#39; directory. The full directory is available <a href="http://www.resource-recycling.com/images/certification/Certified_Processors.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5886#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 23 Apr 2015 16:14:07 +0000bobby5886 at http://resource-recycling.comNewsBitshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5885
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<h2>NewsBits</h2>
<p><i>April 23, 2015</i></p>
<p>The Consumer Electronics Association has teamed up with educational materials company Young Minds Inspired to <a href="http://tinyurl.com/qxoyq4t">help</a> kids learn about the importance of recycling e-scrap. They&#39;ve <b>created educational materials for students in English and Spanish about recycling electronics</b>.</p>
<p>A survey commissioned by Call2Recycle <a href="http://www.call2recycle.org/green-guilt-on-the-rise/">shows</a> that <b>34 percent of U.S. respondents experience &quot;green guilt,&quot;</b> the feeling they could or should be doing more to help preserve the environment. That&#39;s up from 29 percent who indicated such feelings during a 2012 survey.</p>
<p><b>Apple said it collected 44,529 tons of e-scrap</b> through its take-back program in 2014, more than 75 percent of the total weight of products the company sold seven years earlier. Materials <a href="http://www.apple.com/environment/finite-resources/">recovered</a> included 13,007 tons of steel, 6,575 tons of plastic, 6,337 tons of CRT glass, 2,040 tons of aluminum and 1,430 tons of copper, among other materials.</p>
<p>The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries has <b>honored LG Electronics for designing electronics with recycling in mind</b>. LG will <a href="http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/04/16/725365/10129323/en/ISRI-to-Present-LG-Electronics-with-2015-Design-for-Recycling-R-Award.html">receive</a> a 2015 Design for Recycling Award for television products that emphasize recycling during every lifecycle phase.</p>
<p>An <b>e-scrap collection event held in Joliet, Illinois</b> was so well-attended organizers had to turn residents away, Shaw Media <a href="http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2015/04/20/solution-to-electronics-recycling-crisis-making-headway-in-springfield/a5jimct/?page=1">reports</a>. The event, which drew more than 1,000 people, saw mostly old CRT televisions and computers dropped off for recycling. A bill working its way through the House would <a href="http://resource-recycling.com/node/5482">increase recycling opportunities</a> for residents throughout the state by upping recycling obligations for manufacturers and loosening regulations surrounding downstream outlets for CRT glass.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5885#commentsApril2015E-Scrap NewsThu, 23 Apr 2015 16:13:14 +0000bobby5885 at http://resource-recycling.comCalifornia beverage container program budget cuts off the tablehttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5884
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<h2>California beverage container program budget cuts off the table</h2>
<p><i>By Jared Paben, Plastics Recycling Update</i></p>
<p><i>April 22, 2015</i></p>
<p>California officials no longer envision immediate cuts to programs funded by the state&#39;s beverage container fund because the fund&#39;s financial future looks brighter.</p>
<p class="indent">That&#39;s according to a recent presentation by Susan Collins, executive director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI), based in Culver City, California. Her analysis included data from an April financial report from CalRecycle, the state entity that administers waste management efforts including the redemption program.</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;What we do know now is the fund will have stability through the middle of 2018,&quot; Collins told participants during an April 15 webinar.</p>
<p class="indent">The previously proposed cuts would have affected nearly all stakeholders involved in container recycling in the state. In March 2014, CalRecycle proposed cuts to payments it makes to redemption centers, curbside collectors, processors and recycling companies. It also proposed eliminating the current recycling grants program for local governments. Lastly, it wanted to increase the fees beverage manufacturers pay to support recycling.</p>
<p class="indent">Under California&#39;s bottle bill, consumers pay a nickel or dime deposit, depending on the container size. The funds feed the beverage container recycling fund, which collects about $1.2 billion a year. The state keeps money from unredeemed containers to pay for administration, enforcement, recycling grants, recycling subsidies and more.</p>
<p class="indent">In fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13, expenditures exceeded revenues by about $100 million each year, according to the CRI presentation. As recently as a year ago, CalRecycle estimated the fund&#39;s cash balance would plummet into dangerously low sums in the first quarter of 2016.</p>
<p class="indent">The forecast has improved, partly because of state regulators&#39; efforts to tighten the program, including cracking down on fraud.</p>
<p class="indent">CalRecycle tightened rules for redemption centers, where most bottles are returned, in several ways. It reduced the number of containers that can be redeemed per person each day, forbid payments for commingled loads (those containing a mix of deposit and non-deposit containers), mandated training and required the use of state reporting software.</p>
<p class="indent">CalRecycle also hired additional auditors, registered hundreds of additional distributors and manufacturers that should have been participating in the program and boosted efforts to collect deposits, Collins said.</p>
<p class="indent">What&#39;s more, she pointed out, California took steps at the state line to track importation of bottles to ensure they weren&#39;t being illegally redeemed, and the result has been a drop in imported loads.</p>
<p class="indent">The program changes have resulted in a drop in the redemption rate. At the same time, more consumers are buying drinks, resulting in a revenue boost, Collins noted.</p>
<p class="indent">The redemption rate for fiscal year 2014-15 is projected to be 81 percent, down from 85 percent in calendar year 2013. The &quot;break-even&quot; rate, or the redemption rate at which there are enough unredeemed containers to pay the fund&#39;s expenses, is projected to be 79 percent. That leaves a gap of only 2 percentage points for fiscal year 2014-15, down from a 10-percentage-point gap in 2013.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5884#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 22 Apr 2015 03:23:13 +0000dylan5884 at http://resource-recycling.comCup maker that consumed rPET abruptly shuttershttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5883
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<h2>Cup maker that consumed rPET abruptly shutters</h2>
<p><i>By Bobby Elliott, Plastics Recycling Update</i></p>
<p><i>April 22, 2015</i></p>
<p>MicroGreen Polymers, a Washington company that had garnered $40 million in investment funding, has closed down.</p>
<p class="indent">The abrupt closure, first <a href="http://www.theheraldbusinessjournal.com/article/20150406/BIZ/150409391">reported</a> by the Everett, Wash.-based Herald Business Journal, is a surprising turn of events for the recycled products company. Since its founding in 2002, MicroGreen managed to secure at least $40 million in outsider investment to help drive the production of its InCycle cups. The cups, which contain 50 percent recycled PET, have been used most prominently by airlines, including Virgin, United and Alaska.</p>
<p class="indent">A $10 million investment in March of last year was said to <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microgreen-expands-production-capacity-with-investments-from-native-american-tribes-250951431.html">increase production of the company&#39;s cups five-fold</a>, to 2 million per day. In 2010, the company <a href="https://www.wm.com/about/press-room/2010/20100519-wm-mincrogreen-polymers-investment.jsp">scored nearly $7 million</a> in funding from a group of investors that included Waste Management.</p>
<p class="indent">An email to MicroGreen email address of founder Krishna Nadella bounced back.</p>
<p class="indent">A representative from the company&#39;s public relations partner, GreenRubino, stated in an email the company is &quot;no longer working with MicroGreen as of December 2014.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">The company&#39;s largest overall investor of capital, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, says it contributed more than $30 million in a roughly two-year investment span. Titu Asghar, director of economic development for the tribe, told Plastics Recycling Update that MicroGreen &quot;could not make and sell the cups at a price point where it could become profitable.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">&quot;In the end, the company was not able to continue its operations,&quot; Asghar said. &quot;We we were aware the cups were being made at a higher cost than they were able to sell it at. The goal was to raise additional capital and install a new production line. ... Unfortunately, they just couldn&#39;t raise additional capital to make that happen.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">As a debtor of roughly $18 million, Asghar said the tribe is now &quot;inventorying all of the assets and hoping to sell it to an interested party so we can recoup at least some of our investment.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">Asked whether he believes the company could be revived, Asghar said, &quot;I&#39;m hoping someone can make it work.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2015/heavily-funded-maker-of-eco-friendly-plastic-cups-abruptly-closes/">according to Geek Wire</a>, the company&#39;s founder Nadella has formed a separate Washington-based company, Aiooa LLC. Mr. Nadella&#39;s Linkedin profile lists him as the CEO and founder of Aiooa, and state records confirm the corporation was formed on April 13.</p>
<p class="indent">The closure of the MicroGreen&#39;s Arlington, Washington headquarters has resulted in 163 employees of the company being laid off. MicroGreen <a href="http://www.theheraldbusinessjournal.com/article/20150420/BIZ/150429963/MicroGreens-sudden-closure-leaves-163-jobless-and-shocked">reportedly</a> failed to notify them of the closure ahead of time, as required by Washington law.</p>
<p class="indent">Efforts to reach Alaska Airlines, the City of Arlington and Washington&#39;s Employment Security Department were unsuccessful.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5883#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 22 Apr 2015 03:22:26 +0000dylan5883 at http://resource-recycling.comAPR urges grocers to recycle rigid plasticshttp://resource-recycling.com/node/5882
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<h2>APR urges grocers to recycle rigid plastics</h2>
<p><i>By Editorial Staff, Plastics Recycling Update</i></p>
<p><i>April 22, 2015</i></p>
<p>Grocery stores can reduce their waste and generate revenue by recycling their &quot;behind-the-counter&quot; rigid plastics, according to the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers.</p>
<p class="indent">A 2014 case study of multiple grocery rigid plastic recycling programs showed an average supermarket generates between 80 pounds and 150 pounds per week of rigid plastic containers in the bakery, deli, seafood and pharmacy departments, according to APR.</p>
<p class="indent">&ldquo;There is tremendous demand for these containers from grocery stores,&rdquo; Scott Saunders, general manager of Alabama-based KW Plastics and chairman of APR, stated in a press release. &ldquo;Because it is generally clean and already separated, grocers should be able to generate substantial revenue should they make this material available for recycling.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="indent">APR developed the <a href="http://www.recyclegroceryplastics.org/">Grocery Store Recycling Program</a> in 2013. The project targets recovery of HDPE and PP trays, pails and covers. The program&#39;s website includes &quot;how to&quot; materials for stores looking to implement a recycling program.</p>
<p class="indent">Grocers have long been committed to recycling cardboard and film plastics. APR studies found that a 1,000-pound bale of recycled plastic can be worth $100 to $200, while cardboard is generally worth $20 to $30.</p>
<p class="indent">&ldquo;Our studies show there is at a minimum at least 350 million pounds of good, clean material available through stores for recycling,&rdquo; Steve Alexander, APR executive director, stated in the release. &ldquo;That is a great potential source of new material for recyclers, and a new revenue stream for stores. We are excited about the project, and expect to see it grow dramatically in the next few years.&quot;</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5882#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 22 Apr 2015 03:21:25 +0000dylan5882 at http://resource-recycling.comSlashed sales tax on recycling-oriented purchases?http://resource-recycling.com/node/5881
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<h2>Slashed sales tax on recycling-oriented purchases?</h2>
<p><i>By Jared Paben, Plastics Recycling Update</i></p>
<p><i>April 22, 2015</i></p>
<p>Reclaimers and recycling companies could avoid paying millions of dollars in sales taxes on purchases, under a bill in the California legislature.</p>
<p class="indent"><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB199">Assembly Bill 199</a> would expand the definition of projects eligible for sales tax exemptions to include that which &quot;primarily processes recycled feedstock that is intended to be reused in the production of another product or utilizes recycled feedstock in the production of another product or soil amendment.&quot;</p>
<p class="indent">California&#39;s state and local sales taxes can range from as low as 7.5 percent to as high as 10 percent, depending on local government sales tax add-ons, according to the state Board of Equalization.</p>
<p class="indent">The bill supports in-state jobs, helps create a more robust recycling system and benefits the environment by reducing exports of materials overseas, said Teresa Bui, legislative and policy analyst at the nonprofit advocacy group Californians Against Waste, which sponsored the bill.</p>
<p class="indent">Under the bill, those seeking an exemption would apply to the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA), part of the state treasurer&#39;s office.</p>
<p class="indent">The tax exemptions &quot;can only be granted if it&#39;s proven that the economic benefit to the region will outweigh the loss to revenues,&quot; said Jacob Roper, spokesman for the California State Treasurer&#39;s Office.</p>
<p class="indent">If purchasers can prove that, CAEATFA can exempt them from only the local portion of sales taxes, and they&#39;d still be required to pay the state portion.</p>
<p class="indent">The bill does not allow for any retroactive reimbursements from previously made purchases, Bui said.</p>
<p class="indent">The bill passed unanimously out of the State Assembly&#39;s Committee on Natural Resources and now heads to the Revenue and Taxation Committee. According to a bill analysis, 36 different local and national organizations are on record supporting the bill, with no registered opposition.</p>
<p class="indent">But that doesn&#39;t mean the bill is a shoo-in, Bui said, calling the Revenue and Taxation Committee &quot;a graveyard for many bills.&quot; The committee is set to consider the legislation in May.</p>
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http://resource-recycling.com/node/5881#commentsApril2015Plastics Recycling UpdateWed, 22 Apr 2015 03:20:34 +0000dylan5881 at http://resource-recycling.com